A HUMBLE chicken would cost £51 today if food prices has risen as fast as property prices in the past 40 years.

A typical three-bed semi-detached costs 43 times more than it did in the early Seventies, says a report by the housing charity Shelter.

If that rate of inflation was applied to groceries, the average family’s weekly shopping bill would be an eye-watering £453 – up from £10.40.

A four-pint carton of milk would cost £10.45 and half a dozen eggs £5.01 – both can currently be found for less than £1.50– while a leg of lamb would be £53.18, a bunch of six bananas £8.47 and a loaf of sliced white bread £4.36.